Manny Pacquiao and the 10 Most Popular Athletes in the World in 2011

The landscape of the sports world is ever-changing, as is the popularity of certain athletes across the board, but no one has shown more growth as of late than boxing mega-star Manny Pacquiao.

With Pacquiao rising to the top, other well-known athletes have fallen in popularity for various reasons, while others have made a catapult towards the top alongside Pacquiao.

Here is a look at Pacquiao and the 10 most popular athletes in the world in 2011.

10. Shaun White

With board sports becoming increasingly popular each year, the dual-threat Shaun White is at the top of the sport. Not only is White a world-class skateboarder—winning two X-Games gold medals on the vert ramp—but he is an even better snowboarder, winning 11 X Games medals and his crowning achievement, a pair of gold medals at both the 2006 and 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

White's appeal has amassed him a fortune-scoring endorsement deals with many companies, including his latest deal with Stride gum. White has his own line of clothing and shoes sold through Target stores, as well as his own line of skateboarding and snowboarding video games.

As board sports continue to gain steam in the mainstream world, so will White's popularity. Look for big things from the "Flying Tomato" for years to come.

9. Tom Brady

The only NFL player to make the worldwide list is New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.

Brady has successfully used his on-field success off the football field, having multiple endorsement deals and has even played himself on the hit HBO series Entourage.

In addition to his own work, Brady's worldwide appeal is also aided by his wife, Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen.

By finding themselves in tabloids on a monthly basis, the power couple have helped people who are not into football become fans due to a the large segment of the population that is interested in celebrity gossip.

8. Roger Federer

Longtime tennis star Roger Federer still has enough star power to make the list, but he is fading out year after year.

The 16-time Grand Slam winner is not as dominant as he once was, but Federer still has a bevy of endorsement deals and can still play tennis well enough to keep his stardom at a worldwide level.

Federer has seen his ranking drop due to the younger and more dominant Rafael Nadal taking the tennis world by storm over the past few years.

Although his ranking has slipped a bit, Federer should be one of the top-10 athletes in the world for the foreseeable future.

7. Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal has already racked up 10 Grand Slam titles at the age of 25, and is the youngest player to complete a career Grand Slam in tennis history.

As his dominance of tennis continues, one could expect Nadal to keep climbing the list of most popular athletes in the world. Nadal has the tennis skill to keep winning titles, and the looks to land major endorsement deals for years to come.

Most consider Roger Federer to be the greatest tennis player the sport has ever seen, but I think once it's all said and done, Nadal will replace Federer and be known as the greatest player ever to pick up a racket.

6. Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant is thought of by most to to be the greatest basketball player to suit up in the NBA since MJ was dominating the league, and his spot on the list of most popular athletes in the world supports that statement.

Bryant has collected five NBA titles with the Los Angeles Lakers during his 14-year NBA career, and has an MVP trophy and an Olympic Gold medal to boot.

However, he has seen his name rise to the top and then fall off the charts after his alleged sexual assault back in 2003.

Still, Bryant has a few good years left in the NBA, and will be Jordanesque when he retires, keeping a loyal fan base and being one of the most recognizable people in the world years after he plays his last game.

5. David Bekcham

David Beckham's best playing days on the soccer field are behind him, but that doesn't stop him from breaking the top of this list.

Beckham's worldwide fame comes from his time spent with the Manchester United Football Club in the English Premier League, and more recently playing with the Los Angeles Galaxy of the MLS in the United States.

Beckham has become one of the most marketable athletes in the world as well as a regular model for high-end clothing brands.

His personal life also fuels his massive popularity, as his wife, pop star and fashion designer Victoria Beckham, has given him as much publicity as his career playing soccer has.

When Beckham retires he won't be on the list of most popular athletes in the world, but he surely will be on the list of most popular people in the world for years on end.

4. Georges St. Pierre

With the UFC blowing up more and more each year, the star fighters of the MMA world make their presence felt on a worldwide level. Current UFC welterweight champion Geroges St. Pierre has skyrocketed to the upper level of the list.

The Canadian-born fighter has developed a worldwide following, and was named the Canadian Athlete of the Year in 2008, 2009 and 2010 by Rogers Sportsnet. He has been one of the most-searched sports names on Google over the past year.

GSP has a showdown with Nick Diaz on October 29th, and will be entering the fight with a nine-match win streak on the line.

As the UFC grows in popularity, expect GSP to do so as well. He seems to have the skill set to keep him unbeaten for sometime to come.

3. LeBron James

LeBron James' decision to take his talents to South Beach on live TV angered the general public, but not enough to take him off the world's most popular athletes list.

James' celebrity has reached Michael Jordan-like levels, making him one of the biggest draws in sports.

He has a heavy list of endorsement deals that keeps his face plastered all over the world.

His Nike shoes are some of the best-selling shoes on the market, and James has been one of the most-searched athletes on Google for years now.

James' pairing up with Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh and the Miami Heat can be huge for him. He has the chance to win multiple titles there, which could propel his career to a whole new level.

2. Cristiano Ronaldo

The heartthrob to ladies everywhere, soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo has fan-drawing power even fellow soccer player David Beckham doesn't match.

Having played for Manchester United during the majority of his professional career, Ronaldo has been with Real Madrid since 2009 and has been a member of the Portugese national team, playing in two World Cups.

Ronaldo has over 10 million fans on Facebook and has authored an autobiography, appeared in several ads for high-fashion brands as a model and also dates famous models, all of which garner him more of a following outside of the sports world.

1. Manny Pacquiao

Manny Pacquiao has come a long way to reach the top of the sports world popularity-wise.

Pacquiao is the pound-for-pound king of boxing, and has translated that success into a highly profitable brand.

Besides his Hall of Fame boxing career, Pacquiao has taken up several different crafts to build his personal brand and bring it to the top.

Pacquiao has been in a few movies (mostly out of the Philippines), has started a music career, and has landed several big-time endorsements from some of the biggest companies around, including Hewlett Packard and Nike.

Outside of somewhat glamorous side of sports and entertainment, Pacquiao is a congressman in his homeland of the Philippines.

With the potential Floyd Mayweather fight hanging in limbo, there will be a huge amount of buildup until the fight takes place (if it does take place). The buildup will keep Pacquiao's name in the media until the fight gets settled, and that is a good thing for his career.

Pacquiao is the most-searched sports name on Google, and with the biggest fight in boxing history waiting to take place, his numbers are sure to go up.